“She knows who I am, she knows what she’s charged with, she knows what the proceedings are, she knows who you are," Sabbota said.

Small said the defense would be given time to respond to the prosecution's competency hearing before she ruled on it.

Layne remains in the Oakland County Jail without bail.

Her next court date was set for July 2.

New revelations on motive

Sabbota said Layne has told him Hoffman threatened her just moments before the shooting occurred.

“I believe there was a threat, sure,” Sabbota said.

When asked what type of threat, Sabbota said he believed it was both physical and verbal.

Sabbota said Hoffman wasn’t armed with a weapon.

“Does a 17-year-old need to be armed against a 74-year-old?” Sabbota said.

Sabbota said his client had told him that Hoffman made comments that lead her to believe her life was in danger.

"She doesn't want to portray her daughter as a bad mother. But the circumstances ended up that she was the caretaker of this child. Dynamically, this happened as a result of his problems," Sabbota said.